--A grueling run that had the Thunder play five preseason games in seven days ended with a slew of minor injuries and a team in need of a break. The coaching staff came out of the stretch with a definite goal going forward.

"We've got a little bit of identifying to do," P.J. Carlesimo said. "In saying, 'OK, this is what this guy does well, these combinations play well together.'"

The Thunder lost four of those five games, but Desmond Mason said the results are somewhat misleading. A number of players were in and out of the lineup, and the team hardly saw the practice court.

"It's hard to kind of get a solid feel because we haven't had a lot of practice time," he said.

--Though the Thunder won't have the talent edge most nights, the homecourt edge should be sizable. Well, at least the crowds will be.

Season tickets sold out in just five days, with 13,000 seats snatched up for all 41 home games. The franchise limited season tickets at the nearly 20,000-seat Ford Center, with the difference being held back for single-game tickets, group sales and partial season-ticket plans.

"This is going to be a good building for us," P.J. Carlesimo said after the first and only preseason home game. "The atmosphere in this building is very, very good and I know it's going to be a heck of a lot better come the 29th. And the games after that we will give the people more reason to cheer and to feel good about this team."

MAIN REASON THE THUNDER CAN WIN: Win, here, is a relative term. Oklahoma City doesn't have any illusions of contending for a playoff spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Instead, success will be measured by the continued growth of Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook and Co.

MAIN REASON THE THUNDER CAN LOSE: It's going to happen with a roster short on realized potential, talent and experience. The trick will be avoiding the kind of demoralizing losing streaks that can kill a team's spirit.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It felt like I was in college again." -- G Russell Westbrook, on the atmosphere inside the Ford Center.